Real Madrid vs Liverpool live
List of goalscorers
End of match
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93'FT: Real Madrid 3-1 Liverpool. That's that here in Kiev! Real Madrid are champions of Europe once again! Gareth Bale proved to be the matchwinnner with his brace after coming off the bench, but spare a thought for Loris Karius, whose mistakes led directly to two the of the Real Madrid goals.
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93'DRAMA! Ronaldo races clear but play is called to a halt as a pitch invader is wrestled to the ground yards from the Portuguese as he attempts to get a shot away. Unsurprisingly, he doesn't look happy!
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92 'Van Dijk does brilliantly to prevent Asensio from laying one on a plate for Ronaldo in the middle.
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90'3 minutes added on.
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90'Liverpool win a free-kick down the left, but Real Madrid do their job and head it to safety.
Substitution
at Real Madrid
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88 'Benzema makes way for Marco Asensio for Real Madrid, who are cruising to victory now.
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85'GREAT TACKLE! Bale streaks away and looks to be on the verge of his hat-trick, only for Dejan Lovren to make a find last-ditch tackle on the slide.
Goaaaaaal!
en el 83' (Real Madrid)
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83 'GOAL! REAL MADRID! BALE! 3-1! The Welshman takes aim from 30 yards and it is straight at Karius, but that doesn't stop the German from letting it slip straight through his hands and into the back of the net. It's been a poor night for Karius, who may find himself unwelcome in Liverpool at this rate.
Substitution
at Liverpool
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83 'Emre Can is on in place of James Milner. Could this be the German's last appearance for the 'Reds'?
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83 'Mane earns the first booking of the game for a late challenge on Ramos.
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82 'CHANCE! Benzema meets a ball in from Bale deep on the right with a side-footed volley, but as well as he strikes it, Karius is able to parry it away.
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78'Some decent possession from Liverpool but Real Madrid hold firm.
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74 'WHAT A CHALLENGE! Real Madrid counter and Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself one-on-one with Loris Karius, he prepares to pull the trigger, but from nowhere Andy Robertson gets in to make a vital challenge to prevent Real from doubling their lead.
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73'Liverpool want a penalty as Firmino's cross hits the elbow of Casemiro, but it would have been an incredibly harsh call and the man in black waves play on.
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70'OFF THE POST! MANE! The Senegalese cuts onto his left foot and has a go from 25 yards and his low effort crashes into the base of the post with Navas beaten. Inches!
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69 'Ramos makes a vital intervention to deny Mane a one-on-one chance, before Navas punches the ensuing corner to safety.
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68'Adam Lallana gathers a pass from deep in the Real Madrid box, but he is adjudged to have strayed a yard offside.
Goaaaaaal!
en el 64' (Real Madrid)
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64 'GOAL! REAL MADRID! BALE! Oh my giddy aunt, how is that for an instant impact! Marcelo crosses from the left and Bale meets it with a spectacular overhead kick that Karius can only watch fly past him and into the top corner. WHAT. A. GOAL. Ronaldo did it in Turin, but this one may just be even better!
Substitution
at Real Madrid
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61 'It's time. Zidane turns to the Cardiff Express as Gareth Bale replaces Isco.
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61 'CHANCE! Nacho crosses from the right and Isco brings the ball under his spell, but his effort on the turn is palmed away by Karius. It may already have been going wide but the German probably won't be taking any more chances tonight.
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60'Scotsman v Croat in a 50-50. There's only one winner as Andy Robertson clatters Modric. Liverpool believe again now, though Real Madrid are controlling possession once again.
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58'Ladies and gentlemen, we could be in for a roller-coaster last 30 minutes here in Kiev.
Goaaaaaal!
en el 55' (Liverpool)
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55 'GOAL! LIVERPOOL! MANE! 1-1! We're level! Lovren leaps like a salmon to meet Milner's floated corner from the right and Mane is first to react to stab home beyond Navas. The Real Madrid players look to the linesman, but there's nothing wrong with that.
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55 'GREAT DEFENDING! Varane does brilliantly to flick Mane's inviting cross away from ahead of both Wijnaldum and Firmino!
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54'Liverpool have been the architects of their own downfall here, they've been sloppy beyond belief since half-time.
Goaaaaaal!
en el 51' (Real Madrid)
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51 'GOAL! REAL MADRID! BENZEMA! 1-0! A shocker from Karius! The goalkeeper gathers a long ball ahead of Benzema and then attempts to roll it out quickly, only for the striker to block the attempted pass, with the ball rolling into the unguarded net. You can't make mistakes like that in a Champions League final! Much maligned, Benzema finally has his Champions League final goal!
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48'ISCO! OFF THE BAR! Milner attempts to make an interception but manages only to prod the ball through to Isco. Karius is quick off his line and the Spaniard attempts to guide the ball over him and into the back of the net, only for his effort to come crashing back into play off the bar.
26 May 2018
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48'Early reports suggest that Mo Salah's injury was a dislocated shoulder. Get well soon Mo!
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47'Liverpool may need to get a hold of Toni Kroos in this second half if they are to get anything out of this game:
26 May 2018
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46'Real Madrid get us back underway here, no further changes for either side.
26 May 2018
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45'HT: Real Madrid 0-0 Liverpool. Nothing to choose from between the two sides at the break. Karim Benzema saw a goal disallowed for offside just before the break, whilst Trent Alexander-Arnold had an effort well saved by Keylor Navas at the other end. Both sides have lost a player to injury, with both Dani Carvajal and Mo Salah being forced off in tears. It's been an action-packed opening 45, but it remains all to play for here in Kiev.
26 May 2018
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45 'Benzema curls an effort inches wide of the near post from 25 yards. A decent effort from the Frenchman.
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45'Robertson rises to head a corner clear as Liverpool look set to go in at the break level.
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45'3 minutes added on.
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45 'Nacho creeps in on the blindside to meet a long ball from the left on the volley, but he can only find the side-netting.
Goal disallowed
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43'Real have the ball in the net but it won't count! Nacho swings in a beautiful ball from the right and whilst Karius managers to parry away Ronaldo's header, Benzema is on hand to turn home the rebound. He starts to streak away, but the offside flag is promptly raised and the Frenchman remains without a Champions League final goal.
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42'Some sloppy passing from both sides as first Ronaldo and then Lallana surrender possession under little pressure.
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41'Ronaldo attempts to get in behind, but is denied by the linesman.
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39 'Van Dijk comes across to make a firm challenge on Modric after a spell of Real Madrid possession.
Substitution
at Real Madrid
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36 'Carvajal manages to walk off the field, but he can't continue and Nacho is on to replace him for his maiden Champions League final appearance. Another World Cup at risk.
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34 'Another injury here in Kiev and it looks another bad one. Dani Carvajal is down and he's in tears as well. It was a clash with Andy Robertson that did the damage and they've called for the stretcher.
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33 'Benzema sees an effort on the turn blocked away but a stubborn Liverpool defence. Very few clear-cut chances to speak of so far here.
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32'Robertson does well to stick with his man and block Modric's low effort away for a throw in as the Croatian looked to buy himself a yard of space.
Substitution
at Liverpool
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30 'Oh dear. Mo Salah can't continue and he will be replaced by Adam Lallana. The Egyptian is in tears as he leaves the pitch, his Champions League final is over, will it also affect his World Cup campaign?
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26 'Look away now Liverpool fans! Mohamed Salah looks to be in some pain as he lands on his shoulder following a tussle with Sergio Ramos.
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23 'CHANCE! Milner pulls the ball back for Firmino from the byline and the Brazilian spins before pulling the trigger from 14 yards but Ramos comes across to make the block. The ball breaks for Alexander-Arnold, but his fierce effort is well kept out by Navas after is fizzed through a crowd. Good stuff from Liverpool.
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22'Ramos is alert to swoop in ahead of Mane after the forward looked to have stolen a march on his marker.
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22'A few fouls sneaking into the game now as the rhythm drops somewhat.
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18'Van Dijk rises above Navas but can only head Salah's corner over the bar. It wouldn't have counted anyway though, with the whistle bizarrely having gone for a foul on the Costa Rican by the Liverpool man. Overprotected these days goalkeepers.
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18 'Sloppy from Carvajal as he gives away a corner under zero pressure.
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15 'Robertson goes off in chase of a pass he has no chance of reaching and Carvajal beats him to it. The Spaniard feeds Ronaldo down the right and he advances into the space vacated by the Scot, before lashing a fierce effort over the bar at the near post from a narrow angle.
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14'Keystone cops stuff for Madrid as Liverpool see a four or five shots blocked into the path of other players in quick succession. In the end, the ball is worked out to Alexander-Arnold, with Navas punching his cross clear.
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13'A period of Madrid possession ends as Liverpool sneak in and Kroos can only fly in on Mane on halfway.
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11 'Marcelo drags a low effort wide of the post from 25 yards. the Brazilian did score in all three of the knockout rounds, but he'll have to do better than that if he's to breach the Liverpool backline tonight.
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10'Roberto Firmino is looking a real danger early on here. He's picking up the ball in all manner of positions and not giving the Real Madrid back four a moment's peace.
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8'Navas flies off his line to smother the ball as both Salah and Alexander-Arnold looked to latch onto a flick-on from Firmino.
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7'HUGE CHALLENGE! Varane does brilliantly to make a last-ditch challenge after Firmino appeared to have set Mane away.
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6 'A surprise as Milner plays the set-piece short for Salah, but his effort from 20 yards is blocked clear by Modric.
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5'Marcelo brings Salah down just outside the box after letting the Egyptian get the wrong side of him and Liverpool have a chance to swing the ball into the box.
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4'Good pressure from Liverpool as Firmino picks Casemiro's pocket on the edge of the Real Madrid box. The ball is worked out wide, but Alexander-Arnold's low cross is hacked away to safety.
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2'Karius does brilliantly to punch Carvajal's cross from the right away from in front of Isco, but the flag had gone up against the Andalusian regardless.
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2'An outlandish nutmeg from Ronaldo on Wijnaldum comes to nothing as Liverpool clear. The Portuguese looks in the mood.
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1'Early pressure from Liverpool as Salah looks to slide in Mane but Varane is across to shut the door in the Senegalese's face.
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1'WE'RE OFF! Liverpool get us underway in Kiev!
26 May 2018
Start of match
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PRVWThe players are out on the pitch! The Champions League song is ringing around the stadium, it's time!
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PRVWJurgen Klopp gives his thoughts: “We came here with a specific kind of football [big balls] and it would make no sense to play differently tonight. It is very tense; everybody can feel the size of the game. The challenge is to see it as a normal football game. We don’t need to be 1-0 up after two minutes; we cannot unsettle them with that. We need to be stable at the start. Bale could have played; you see the bench of Madrid ... ooh hoo hoo! Their bench could probably qualify for the CL final."
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PRVWThe Liverpool fans significantly outnumber their Real Madrid counterparts here in Kiev:
26 May 2018
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PRVWReal Madrid have made little attempt to change their system to nullify Liverpool and time will tell if that was a wise decision or not. With question marks having been raised about Marcelo's ability to shackle Mo Salah, that will be the battle to watch tonight, with the Brazilian potentially forced to abandon his attacking instincts and play a more disciplined game.
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PRVWInterestingly, Liverpool's starting lineup tonight has the youngest average age in a Champions League final (26 years 170 days) since Borussia Dortmund's in 2013 (25 years 255 days), when the German outfit were also managed by Jurgen Klopp.
26 May 2018
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PRVWCristiano Ronaldo is confident ahead of this one: "We can make history if we win three Champions Leagues in a row, but we're not looking at it like that. I am keeping the faith, I feel good about it. These finals are always special occasions. We need to respect Liverpool. They deserve their place in the final. They remind me of the Real Madrid of days gone by, with fast, pacey forwards. I think we are better, but of course you always have to respect your rivals."
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PRVWWarm-ups are underway here in Kiev:
26 May 2018
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PRVWExperience could be key tonight and Real Madrid certainly have the upper hand on that front:
26 May 2018
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PRVWReal Madrid are unbeaten when lining up with the eleven players that started in Cardiff. A bad omen for Liverpool.
26 May 2018
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PRVWAndy Robertson becomes the first Scotsman to play in a Champions League final since Paul Lambert for Borussia Dortmund in 1997.
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PRVWAs with 12 months ago in Cardiff, Gareth Bale is made to do with a place on the bench. Zinedine Zidane has named the same side that claimed the trophy a year ago, with Isco playing at the tip of a diamond in midfield.
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PRVWNo surprises from Liverpool then as they play the same side that started the second leg of the semi-final against Roma. Emre Can and Adam Lallana return to the bench, but there is no room in the squad for Danny Ings.
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PRVWReal Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo. Subs: Casilla, Nacho, Bale, Theo, Lucas, Asensio, Kovacic.
26 May 2018
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PRVWLiverpool: Karius; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Lovren, Robertson; Henderson, Milner, Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mane. Subs: Mignolet, Clyne, Klavan, Moreno, Lallana, Can, Solanke.
26 May 2018
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PRVWWill Liverpool's extra week of rest before this game be significant? given their style of play, going into this one well rested can only be of benefit to the 'Reds'.
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PRVWFormer Liverpool striker Rickie Lambert has been spotted in Kiev cheering on his boyhood club:
26 May 2018
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PRVWA sneak peek inside the Real Madrid dressing room:
26 May 2018
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PRVWNot to be outdone, so have Liverpool:
26 May 2018
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PRVWReal Madrid have released a motivational video ahead of this one:
26 May 2018
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PRVWVictory today for Real Madrid would see Cristiano Ronaldo draw level with 'Los Blancos' legend Alfredo Di Stefano with five European Cup titles, albeit one of them during his time with Manchester United.
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PRVWGareth Bale is a man in form at the moment, having scored five goals in his last four La Liga games, but there are no guarantees that he will be handed a start here. The Welshman has started just one game in the CL knockout stages, the second leg against Juventus, in which he was hooked at half-time.
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PRVWLess than an hour until the team news comes out here. It's difficult to see any surprises from Liverpool, but Real Madrid could leave out any one of a host of stars, such is the depth of their squad.
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PRVWTonight's game has been billed as a battle between Mo Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo, but who will come out on top in this one?
26 May 2018
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PRVWIt goes without saying that the Liverpool fans are enjoying their long weekend in Kiev:
26 May 2018
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PRVWPredictably, the pitch at the Olympic Stadium is looking like an absolute carpet:
26 May 2018
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PRVWLiverpool topped Group E following three wins and three draws before swatting aside Porto in the last 16 (5-0 Agg). An all-English tie followed in the quarters, with the 'Reds' rising to end Manchester City's march towards the treble (5-1 Agg), before a stunning first-leg display at Anfield helped them see off Roma in the last four (7-6 Agg).
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PRVWReal Madrid came second behind Spurs in Group H, having taken just one point from two games against the English side (1-1 and 3-1). However, the Spanish champions showed their credentials in the knockout stages, beating French Champions PSG in the last 16 (5-2 Agg), Italian Champions Juventus in the quarter-finals (4-3 Agg) and German champions Bayern Munich in the semis (4-3 Agg).
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PRVWSo, we all know which teams will be playing in the final but how did they get there?
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PRVWGareth Bale: "This is history. I came to this great club to win titles and it is going to be a special day. I feel great, I am ready for the final. Last year we got our second CL in a row and now we want more. We know this is no mean feat, we are up against a determined side. I think I am on fine form physically. I never imagined playing in so many finals. I have played in three and this could be a fourth win, it has blown any expectations I had out of the water."
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PRVWFor their part, Real Madrid have a full squad to choose from, leaving manager Zinedine Zidane with some significant tactical headaches.
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PRVWJurgen Klopp confirmed yesterday that he has no new injury concerns ahead of this one. Long-term absentees Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee), Joe Gomez (ankle) and Joel Matip (thigh) will miss the game, but James Milner (muscle problem) and Emre Can (back) are fit to feature.
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PRVWNo team has won more European Cups than Real Madrid (12), whilst Liverpool are the most successful English side in the history of the competition with five triumphs.
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PRVWReal Madrid go into this one as favourites as they search for an unprecedented third consecutive Champions League title, but write off Jurgen Klopp's plucky Liverpool at your peril.
Pre-match
26 May 2018, 22:45
Referee: Milorad Mazic
Stadium: NSC Olimpiyskiy
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PRVWHello and welcome! Today is the day we have all been waiting for as Real Madrid and Liverpool face off in the battle to be named champions of Europe 2018.